Bill Belichick’s debut at North Carolina is fast approaching.
Soon, “Chapel Bill” will be roaming the sidelines, leading the Tar Heels in their Labor Day night matchup against TCU. But the question remains — just how different will things be for both the team and the former Patriots head coach?
There’s plenty of intrigue around Belichick’s first foray into college coaching and how his approach will translate. Even his former quarterback, Tom Brady, believes there will be challenges Belichick never faced in the NFL.
“How much can these young kids retain? That may be an interesting challenge as well, because in some ways, they’re not professional. They don’t have as much time as we had as professional athletes to go in there and study film and practice and meet and all that. They don’t have that amount of time at the college level,” Brady told Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt.
But according to ESPN’s David Hale, there may be a different version of Belichick in Chapel Hill — one that’s “softened around the edges a bit.”
Jamie Collins, a former Patriots linebacker and now UNC’s inside linebackers coach, told Hale that Belichick’s style has shifted.
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“I’ve seen the Bill that was coaching us,” Collins said. “And I’ve seen a different side of Bill coaching these guys. That’s the eliteness of him, understanding situations. It’s what makes him great. It’s still Bill though.”
Former Patriots tight end Christian Fauria said today’s era of college football suits Belichick, though fans shouldn’t expect him to take on flashy recruiting tactics.
“If this was 10 years ago, I don’t know if he’d have the stomach for it,” Fauria said. “I’m not sure if he’s willing to go to someone’s house and do ‘The Electric Slide’ in someone’s living room. But Bill is prepared for this. He’s tailor-made for this job based on how it has evolved.”
Whether UNC players fully buy into Belichick’s methods remains to be seen. His approach may have softened, but many in Chapel Hill are hoping his winning ways remain unchanged.